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Deriving the chemical formula of compounds

Answer Text:
Deriving the chemical formula of compounds.
- In order to write the correct formula of a compound the following must be known:
-The symbols of the constituent elements or radicals.
-The valencies of the elements or radicals
- The chemical formula should start with the element which is more likely to lose electron (s) followed by the element that is more likely to gain.
Worked examples.
Deriving the formula of sodium chloride

Balancing ratios as subscripts: Na1Cl1 Formula: NaCl
Explanation:
- For sodium to combine with chlorine to form sodium chloride, sodium loses an electron while chlorine gains an electron.
- Thus every sodium atom needs only a single chlorine atom for both to be fully stable